Welcome to Autumn—
For me, this is the richest time of year and full of so many reminders of the cycle of life, the ebb and flow of time and the constant of change. While many feel that fall is a year end "death", I see it as a seasonal explosion of all kinds of possibilities—not only the vibrant colors, crisp air and brilliant skies, but also a huge burst of energy that takes place just before the winter solstice,
when everything seems to go quiet.
It's a time that invites us to move beyond leaves falling and days getting shorter. It mirrors the quickening of the year winding down as we gather Our Selves to reflect and go inward when temps drop and winter settles in.
It's also a chance for us to reconsider all the various "obligations" and interactions that the next three months tend to offer us: different situations—whether they're virtual or not—new or long standing connections, even simple exchanges with a stranger.
They're all a chance to come to the moment with a different approach and perspective—one where you can choose another path than the default one. With thanks to Walt Whitman, it's a lovely practice we can all deepen: "Be curious, not judgmental."
(Full disclosure—since I recorded this, there's been some back and forth about whether Whitman said this or not. Either way, it still speaks to the practice and prompts an important aspect of it—to be able to separate the message from the messenger.)
Can you"Be Curious, Not Judgmental"(2:41)?
